Apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. J.'.'O.' BRYON, Jr.

EXERGISING APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 28,1882.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheen s. W. J. 0. BRYON, Jr. -EXEROISING-APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 28, 1882-.

mic I WITNESgE N. PETERS, Pmmunw n her. Waahingmn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. O. BRYON, JR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXERCISING' APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,108, dated February 28, 1882. Application filed December 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. J. O. Baron, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Exercising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of exercising apparatus in which the resistance to be overcome consists of an elastic strap or band of rubber, or of a spiral spring, fixed at one end and attached at the other end to a cord or band and to a handle or handles.

My invention has reference more particularly to an arrangement of the above devices, sometimes called wall exercise, in which the fixed support for one end of the spring and the pulley over which passes the band or rope joined to the other end are attached to the wall or to the frame of a door, and is designed to furnish an apparatus that may be used either in the exercise of rowing, or by interchanging the pulley and the eye or hook which forms the fixed attachment for the spring may be used in a standing position.

A further design of .my invention is to provide devices that may be readily detached from their supports and laid aside when not required for use,and which may also be packed into small compass when they are to be removed to another place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus arranged for exercise in a standing position. Fig. 2 is a view showing the apparatus in position for the exercise of rowing. Figs. 3 and 4-. are perspective views of sockets or clamps for holding the removable pulley p, and the hook or eye to which the fixed end of the spring is connected. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the invention, and illustrates the manner in which a pulley may be applied for giving a long stroke to the operatin g-handle, with a small extension of the spring.

In Fig. 1 the lower end of the spiral spring I is shown hooked to an eye or hook, 2, whose stem or shank is provided with an extension or tongue, 3, at right angles to the shank,-and which is seated in a holder or socket, 4. A pin, 5, prevents the tongue and eyes from falling from the socket-plate. The other end of the .spring 1 is hooked to a cord or band, 6, which passes over a pulley, 7, whose frame or block Sis also provided with an extension or tongue, 9, at right angles thereto, which is seated in a similar socket-plate, 10, screwed to a door-frame or other suitablesupport. shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 seated in the lower socket-plate. The end of the cord or band is provided with suitable handles, as shown.

With the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus may be used in a standing or other positions.

To use the devices for rowing exercise, the parts are to be arranged as shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose it is only necessary to remove the pin 5, so as to allow the hook or fixed attachment for the spring to be taken from the lower plate or holder and transferred to the upper plate. The pulley-block is in the same manner transferred to the lower plate, the parts being arranged as shown.

The sockets or holders consist of a plate, 12, perforated for the insertion of screws, by which they may be attached to any suitable support.

Upon these plates are the sockets or holders proper, consisting of two side pieces and a cross-piece,13, under which latter the tongues or extensions 9 and 3 of the pulley and the hook extend when the parts are in place. The side pieces in the lower plate are perforated, as shown at 14, for the reception of the lockingpin 5.

The plate 12, side pieces, and cross-pieces 13 are preferably cast in one piece. By these devices the pulley and the hook, eye, or other attachment for the end of the spring may be readily interchanged, or they may be removed alto; gether, and the whole apparatus, excepting the sockets or holders, which may be permanently secured, can be laid aside out of sight when the apparatus is not in use. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the plates and sockets fixed to the wall are of slightly difierent shape.

The pulley-block A is of substantially the same constructionas in the other figures; but the extension which fits into the sockets upon the fixed plates is round instead of rectangular. The hook B, joined to the fixed end of the spring, is here shown as of ordinary shape, and hooks into either of the fixed sockets in the manner shown, so as to hold the end of the spring to which it is attached stationary.

The end of the operating rope or band by This extension 9 is which the springis stretched, instead of being attached directly to the end of the spring, passes around a pulley, 0, hooked to the end of the spring, and is hooked at its end to an ordinary screw-eye, D, which also assists in holdingthe upper socket-platein position. The lower socket-plate is provided with a similar screw-eye, D, for attachment of the end of the operating-rope when the apparatus is used for rowing exercise. VVheu the operating-rope is fixed at one end and carried around a pulley hooked to the end of the spring the extension of the spring is more gradual and a longer stroke of the operating-handle can be obtained with a more gradual increase of the power necessary to extend the spring.

Other devices for holding one end of the spring may be substituted for the hook or eye, and other means may be employed for removably attaching the pulley and the device for holding the end of the spring without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists broadly in making these devices readily removable and constructing the permanentlyattached supports or holders for the same in such a manner that the hook and the pulley may be readily interchanged.

As the various parts are small and of little weight, the whole apparatus can be packed into very small compass and easily transported.

I am aware that pulleys and books have been so arranged that a resistance-sprin g and its attachment'could be used for exercise in either a standing or sitting position, as in patent to J. H. Weeks, September 21, 1880, No. 232,579; but my apparatus dilfers from thedevices th erein described, in that both the pulley and the hook are readily detached from their supports, and are supported by a device of such a construction that either may be placed in the position of the other. I am thus enabled to accomplish bythe use of a single pulley and hook all that has heretofore been accomplished by a multiplicity of these devices.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In an exercising apparatus provided with an elastic spring or other suitable resistance, the combination of a pulley and a hook or fixed attachment interchangeable in position with one another, substantially as described.

2. The eombination,'with the fixed socketplates, of a pulley whose frame is provided with a tongue or extension at right angles thereto for entering. said sockets, and a hook or ring whose shank is provided with a similar tongue, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an exercising apparatus which is provided with an elastic spring or other suitable resistance, the combination, with a pulley over which passes the cord attached to one end of said spring, of a hook, eye, or other suitable device, to which the fixed end of said spring may be attached, and means whereby said pulley and hook may be interchanged in position, for the purpose described.

4. In awall exercising apparatus, the combination of fixed holders or supports and removably-attached pulley and hook or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a wall exercising apparatus, a hook or eye for attaching the fixed end of the resistance-spring, whose shank is provided with a tongue or extension at right angles thereto, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a wall exercising apparatus, a pulley block or frame provided with a tongue or extension at riglitangles thereto, in combination with a socket fixed to the wall or other suitable support, substantially as described.

7. In combination with theremovable pulley and hook and their tongues or extensions, sockets or clamps consisting of the side pieces, cross-piece, and base plate, whereby said clamp may be attached to a wall or other suitable support.

lVM. J. O. BRYON, JR.

Vi tnesses:

H. O. TOWNSEND, THOMAS TooMEY. 

